Teen Vision: Time for Contacts?

Many teens want to replace their eyeglasses with contact lenses, primarily for cosmetic reasons. They believe they look better without their glasses.

Most refractive errors are easily corrected with contact lenses  even astigmatism. In most cases, teens will see just as well with contact lenses as they do with glasses, or even better. Contact lenses offer clearer peripheral vision and less distortion than glasses because the contact lens sits directly on the eye, and there is no frame to block vision.

Teens involved in sports especially will appreciate contact lenses. Wearing contacts for recreational sports gives teens clearer vision and allows them to wear needed protective eyewear over contact lenses. Sure, there's a chance a contact lens will be dislodged or lost during sports play, but replacing a contact lens is much less expensive than replacing an entire pair of glasses.

Allowing teens to choose contact lenses over glasses for vision correction may prompt them to wear sunglasses more frequently as well. They will need to carry only a pair of sunglasses, rather than prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses. Protecting the eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays is important in the long run for healthy vision.

Disposable Contact Lenses Make Lens Care Easy

Many parents are concerned about the amount of care involved in wearing contact lenses. Today, most care systems are quite simple. And most soft contact lenses worn today are disposable, and don't require much care. Your teen will likely have a few pairs at home in case of a torn or lost lens.

Another parental concern is teen responsibility for contact lenses. Most teens have the maturity to wear and care for contact lenses, but you know your teen best. Discuss your concerns both with your teen and your eye care practitioner. If your eye doctor feels your teen isn't ready, contact lenses won't be prescribed. Contact lens wear should be discontinued if your teen isn't following wear or care guidelines.

Consider requiring your teen to contribute part or all of the cost of contact lenses, including the eye examination, the lenses themselves, contact lens solutions and replacement of lost or torn lenses. If teens must bear some of the financial responsibility, they may value wearing contact lenses more highly.

Contact Lenses: Self-Esteem Builder For Teens

Possibly the greatest benefit of wearing contact lenses is the significant jump in self-confidence your teen may experience.

In recent research called the Adolescent and Child Health Initiative to Encourage Vision Empowerment (ACHIEVE) study,* investigators looked into the psychological effect wearing contact lenses had on children and young teenagers who switched from glasses to wearing contacts for a period of three years.

The researchers found that contact lenses significantly improve how children and teens feel about their physical appearance, acceptance among friends and ability to play sports. Girls especially experienced a boost in self-esteem from wearing contacts. Contact lenses even make some kids more confident about their academic performance, according to the study's lead investigator.

Contacts That Change Eye Color

Color contact lenses are a fun way for teens to change their appearance. Lightly tinted lenses can enhance or modify your current eye color by, for example, making light blue eyes a more vibrant blue or changing blue eyes to aquamarine. Colored contacts with opaque tints can change your eyes to a completely different color  from brown to blue, green or violet, for example.

Watch this video on myopia, what causes it, why it progresses and the various techniques for controlling myopia.

Color and special effect contact lenses can be worn by people who don't need vision correction. However, you still need a prescription for these lenses, because they are classified by the FDA as medical devices.

With any contact lens wear, your eye doctor must first examine your eyes to make sure they are healthy and that you have adequate tears to wear contacts successfully. A fitting must then be performed before your doctor can issue a final contact lens prescription.

Contact lenses typically are a healthy, safe, fun and relatively inexpensive way for teens to start making decisions for themselves, with a little guidance from you and your eye care provider.

About the Author: Gary Heiting, OD, is senior editor of AllAboutVision.com. Dr. Heiting has more than 25 years of experience as an eye care provider, health educator and consultant to the eyewear industry. His special interests include contact lenses, nutrition and preventive vision care. Connect with Dr. Heiting via Google+.